Can you prevent stones?

A: Most kidney stones are composed of calcium oxalate or a mixture of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. They form when the urine becomes very concentrated.

Maintaining a high fluid intake (2 to 3 liters per day) is critical for prevention. Water, lemonade (made with real lemons) and orange juice are the best fluids. The goal is to keep the urine clear.

Limiting salt intake as well as reducing meat portions to the size of a deck of cards can also be helpful.

Patients with recurrent stones should speak with a urologist.

Q: Iíve read a number of news stories about how ineffective pediatric cough medicines are. Are there any cough syrups that work in children?

A: Pediatricians now discourage the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for infants and young children.

There is a large amount of data that show that these products do not reduce coughing or congestion in infants and young children.

These medicines also can cause serious side effects, including convulsions, rapid heart rates, altered levels of consciousness and death. The risks of using these medicines outweigh any benefits from a perceived reduction in cold symptoms.

Q: What are options for treating varicose veins or spider veins?

A: For patients with varicose veins, noninvasive options include laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation. In some patients, those approaches arenít good options, and the veins must be removed through small incisions.

Spider veins can be removed by injecting medication with a small needle or by topical laser therapy.